Bringing security & transparency to cask ownership

The whisky world is at a turning point. The recent BBC investigation into cask fraud exposed systemic flaws many had long suspected: old paper-based systems are no longer fit for purpose.

Outdated analogue records have left cask ownership vulnerable to fraud, loss and duplication. This uncertainty undermines both consumer trust and the industry's reputation.

- tamper-proof digital records that verify a cask's provenance, history, location and ownership. They provide clarity and confidence for owners, while easing the administrative load on distilleries, warehouses and brokers.

Forward-thinking businesses have already adopted them, eliminating doubts about authenticity and delivering peace of mind to investors.

"They’ve given us complete visibility of every one of our casks - who owns it, where it is, and what stage it’s at. That’s changed everything for us." 

Christopher Pateman, Commercial Manager, The Lancaster Spirits Company

A Digital Deed is a secure, tamper-proof digital identity assigned to a cask when it enters a warehouse or filled at a distillery. It stays with the cask for its lifetime, recording details like ownership, origin, age, ABV and location. This gives a transparent audit trail visible to all stakeholders: distilleries, warehouses, brokers, HMRC and cask owners.

They're exclusive to the Proof 8 platform and form the backbone of a more transparent, efficient and compliant whisky industry.

“Digital Deeds bring much needed transparency and assurance to cask ownership. Owners know exactly what they have, where it is, and that it’s the real deal."

- Gareth McAllister, Founder & Managing Director, Ahascragh Distillery

The need is urgent and the benefits are clear:

"Following the BBC documentary, many warehouses and distilleries were overwhelmed by enquiries from worried owners. Digital Deeds restore trust and transparency."

The Foundry Vault moved from spreadsheets to Proof 8

"When a cask sells, we see that deed transfer instantly. It’s a game-changer for us and our clients."

Jacqui Hanna, Co-Director, The Foundry Vault

Similarly, Ahascragh Distillery uses Proof 8 to reduce waste, increase yields and track every production stage - enhancing sustainability and storytelling. They can now digitally capture every stage of production from raw ingredients to maturation and bottling - resulting in a richer narrative for the brand and stronger customer loyalty among whiskey enthusiasts.

 (effective from 3 March 2025) now places the onus on warehousekeepers to ensure accurate record-keeping, transparency and compliance.

With reform, paper certificates simply won’t cut it. And 

"For us, it was crucial to be on the front foot with regulation and prioritise data accuracy, operational integrity and customer trust by underpinning our entire operation with Proof 8."

Assign each cask a unique digital ID and QR code. Proof 8 helps migrate and verify your data.

Use APIs to connect existing tools, automate workflows, and ensure total visibility. Proof 8 works on any handheld device and also offline.

Covering basic operations, security protocols and compliance reporting.

Start small. Learn fast. Expand system-wide with the on-hand support of our team.


What you'll get by using Digital Deeds



"Digital Deeds have given us complete visibility of every one of our casks - who owns it, where it is and what stage it’s at. That’s changed everything for us. It’s reduced admin, strengthened compliance and given our cask owners the reassurance they’ve been asking for. This kind of transparency is now essential for everyone involved in whisky today. Digital traceability is becoming the norm"

This isn't tech for tech's sake. Digital Deeds fix a very real industry problem:

During times of uncertainty and geopolitical risk, visibility and planning become business-critical. From malt intake to bottling, the Proof 8 platform helps distilleries track everything, including optimising yields, reducing maturation losses and ensuring the quality and consistency of every product. Warehouses work smarter too: optimised space, access to real-time data, visibility of environmental factors and all movements of assets tracked.

The platform is simple to use and scalable.

“Transparency is now essential for everyone involved in whisky. Digital traceability is becoming the norm. It’s the direction we’re all heading in, and Digital Deeds make this possible.”

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